Custom 1930 Berker switches complement a special project

This ancient cottage set in breathtaking surroundings in the Czech Republic has undergone many transformations since the 16th century. Its latest reincarnation is as a lovingly restored and re-designed luxury resort, where you will wake up to the sounds of nature, soft forest light and the smell of home-made bread.

The rich history of the house

The timber-framed house is a unique example of 17th century village folk architecture, but the oldest part of the house date back to the 16th century. Some of the original beams or one of the stone walls from this period are preserved to this day. A carpenters' signing on the oak portal of the main door is testament to a major structural alteration completed in 1818. As part of this reconstruction, two half-timbered wings were added to the originally conventional rectangular plan of the cottage to form a cross plan. Today, the house is one of only eight surviving cruciform in the Czech Republic.

Hager Group Boutique Hotel with rustical bedroom

When reconstruction makes dreams come true

The current owners, Tereza and Michal Hošek, have fulfilled their lifelong dream by turning this gem into a boutique hotel last year. It was a complex renovation, lovingly executed with the intense involvement of the Hošeks, who both have a deep passion for architecture, design and beauty.

They bought the cottage at a time when its reconstruction was already planned, designed by architect Jiří Jiroutek - a specialist in historical gems. Michal Hošek who jokes that it is just his lack of talent which prevented him from becoming an architect, is very happy with the result of what was really a collaboration: "This reconstruction reflects everything we believe in. Our take on life, our respect traditional craftsmanship, minimalism, sustainability, love of natural materials and attention to detail".

Interiors as a work of art

Tereza Hošková was responsible for the interior design. "My aim was to make the old cottage as light as possible, so the overall colour scheme of the interiors is very light. The interiors are generally designed in the spirit of minimalism, the principles of which are inherent in our family," explains Tereza Hošková. The boutique hotel therefore features almost exclusively natural materials, such as wood, natural stone, linen or ceramics.

Hager Group Boutique Hotel - Hager switches on the wall

The new perfectly complements the old in this project: TON tables by product designer René Šulc were tailored to the restaurant's needs. The interior is also complemented by furniture and shelving systems by the Czech design duo Master & Master. Tereza Hošková herself and her studio Julie store took care of the soft furnishings. The green roof in the rear wing of the building helps to create a pleasant interior climate.

Customized switches and sockets

The switches, sockets and other electrical control elements used in the boutique hotel are a customised 1930 berker series design by Hager. The white rotary switches, referring in appearance to the first rotary switches from the 1930s, have been given a velvety soft touch finish at Michal Hošek's request.

This adds another surprising moment and haptic experience for the hotel guests. "I remember how Michal Hosek and I met at our stand at Designblok in 2015. At that time, in cooperation with design shop MONOBRAND from Prague, we came up with a solution for the renovation of his private cottage, where traditional 1930s berker series switches made of bakelite and white porcelain were finally used," recalls Thomas Grund, Managing Director of Hager in the Czech Republic."

No standard range of berker switches was suitable for the perfectly thought-out interiors of the boutique hotel. The solution was Hager Manufaktura with a specially treated Softtouch velvet surface.

"I had the opportunity to test the berker switches at my cottage. They perfectly match our intention at the boutique hotel - to bring the latest technology under the traditional skin. The reason why I chose berker switches was not only their appearance, but also the quality of their design and, above all, the comprehensive range of devices. It suited me that, in addition to switches and sockets, we could have blinds, dimmers, data, TV and USB sockets and other devices in the same design," explains Michal Hošek.